Oregon State - Three Star Class Ranking - Dana Taylor will welcome an eight member recruiting class to Corvallis that he hopes will help get the Beavers back on track.  Taylor stated, “Our coaching staff has assembled a recruiting class that we feel has the ability to step in and contribute right away.”  The class does appear to have the combination of size, strength, and speed that several of Taylor’s more successful classes from the past have had that were able to hold their own in Pac-10 Conference play.  Defender Travis Anderson from Adelaide, Australia and forward Travis Sanchez from Tucson, Arizona out of Pima Community College are among the newcomers who appear to have the potential to make an impact.  The Beavers will by necessity have a new look in 2009 due to the exodus of seven senior starters from the 2008 team that was 6-9-4 overall with a 3-5-2 mark in the Pac-10.  The departed starters include forward Robby Christner who led the Oregon State attack with seven goals, midfielders Ryan Callahan (2g, 2a), Josh Cameron (0g, 4a), Collin Foster (1g, 1a), and Tracy Hasson and defenders Tim Kelly and Daniel Leach.  Sophomore forward Danny Mwanga (4g, 0a) who was named the 2008 Pac-10 Conference Freshman of the Year returns to spearhead the Beaver attack.  Mwanga provides a solid foundation upon which Taylor can build the team in 2009.  Junior Brian Ramsey (1g. 0a) who started eight contests last year also returns up-top.  Junior Mike Parker and sophomores Colin Mitchell and Matt Drake are among returning midfielders.  Chris Miller, who was a starter last year, is among returning defenders.  Senior Mike Miller who had thirteen starts last year and junior Steve Spangler who started five contests in 2008 return in goal.  The Beavers looked to be a program on the rise when they earned back-to-back NCAA Tourney invites in 2002 and 2003 but the momentum they had going stalled and so far they have been unable to regain it. All things considered the Beavers will be hard pressed to significantly up their win total in 2009.  A ten win season would be a great accomplishment for Oregon State in 2009 but with the rebuilding that looks to be underway this team will likely continue to struggle until it finds an identity and the player combinations that will generate success.       

 

Travis Anderson - Adelaide, Australia - Defender - Golden Grove High School - Played with the Australian National Team - Played for the Hyundai A League Adelaide United Development Team.

 

Tanner French - Sandpoint, Idaho - Defender - Sandpoint High School - First Team All-Conference - All-North-Idaho selection in 2007 and 2008 - Played club with Sandpoint Strikers.

 

Emmett Demirelli - Boise, Idaho - Defender - Centennial High School - Played club with the Boise Capitals - Member Idaho ODP team and Region IV ODP pool - Conference Player of the Year.

 

Mike Hodgen - Centerville, Utah - Midfielder - Bountiful High School - First Team All-State - Played club for Real Salt Lake and La Roca FC - Utah and Region IV ODP team member.

 

Tommy Martin - Park City, Utah - Midfielder - Park City High School - First Team All-State selection - Played club for Utah Rush and La Roca - Member Utah and Region IV ODP squads.

 

Jake Parker - Milwaukie, Oregon - Midfielder - Milwaukie High School - Played club with Westside Metros Internationals - Second Team All-State selection. 

 

Alex Penny - Hillsboro, Oregon - Defender - Glencoe High School - First Team All-State - Played club for FC Portland in 2006 and Bridlemile SC Swoosh.

 

Travis Sanchez - Tucson, Arizona - Forward - Mayfield High School - Pima Community College - Played club for LC United and Tucson Academy.  First Team NJCAA All-American at Pima.